Bob Cullen

ROBERT CULLEN, born in 1933, was brought up in Lincolnshire and educated at the Kings School, Grantham, where he matriculated in 1949. Articled to a local architect, he attended the Nottingham School of Architecture for 3 years on day release. After two years full time study he obtained a distinction in thesis and a Diploma of Architecture in 1956. He worked for Boots and a local firm, Bartlett and Gray, from 1953-57; he then formed the Practice, Architects Design Group, with his tutor and two fellow students. A welcome interval from 1957-59 for National Service followed, when he was granted a commission and served with the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment in BAOR. He then continued as a partner of Architects Design Group until 1981; during that time he was the partner responsible for several award winning schemes, obtaining for his Practice in 1979 the prestigious Financial Times Award for the St Fergus North Sea Gas Terminal.

Over the years, as a vigorous campaigner for conservation and for higher standards of design, he has chaired and been a member of numerous committees, eg The Nottingham Civic Society, Lace Market Working Party and Conservation Area Committee and the East Midlands RIBA Environment Committee. He has served as assessor for the Civic Trust, the RIBA and the Department of the Environment and has a wide experience in planning having represented the environmental movement in the City & County of Nottinghamshire at Structure Plan, Local Plan and Public Project Enquiries.

He edited the magazine, 'Architecture East Midlands' for 3 years and was commissioned jointly with Professor Maurice Barley to write 'Nottingham Now' for European Architectural Heritage Year, 1975.

Marrying the many disciplines that are essential to creating good architecture in the landscape is an absorbing challenge. Success in integrating the unlikely combination of harbour, pipe-line technology, tanks, pumps, landscape, colour and buildings came with a special opportunity given to him by Shell UK at Angelsey Marine Terminal, which won an RIBA commendation in 1979.

He is currently campaigning together with many others, to prevent the spread of cities into green field sites and for greater investment in the inner city.

A recent success was his campaign to protect Nottingham's unique skyline of the Castle on the rock which lead to the Inland Revenue competition.

Working in many different teams helped to develop an understanding of the complexity of modern building and the need for good communication and co-operation at all levels. Partnerships involving Society as a whole he believes are an essential component for the successful rehabilitation and rebuilding of our cities. Partnerships have included Regional and Local Government, Housing Associations, tenant and voluntary groups, developers and financial institutions, builders and professionals.

He enjoys squash, tennis, snooker and travelling, as well as drawing, painting and writing.